In less than a month, the first major King’s Plate prep race will take place at Woodbine, leading Canadian-bred three-year-olds to the big dance on August 17. The Queenston Stakes, restricted to Canadian-breds, is a seven furlong, one-turn stakes race that should bring together some of the top contenders for this year’s Plate.
Manfred and Penny Conrad could be back on the Plate trail seven years after their homebred State of Honor finished eighth in the 2017 edition. The couple from Wellelsey, Ontario (near Kitchener) won races with two nice three-year-olds in recent weeks and both could be in the Queenston in a month’s time.
The Conrads, who got into racing just over a decade ago, had early success with their horses. Their filly Shamrock Rose won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2018 and the next year they sold her for $2.9 million.
After a few years of their medium-sized stable winning plenty of races, although no stakes, the Conrads were in the winner’s circle following the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine on April 29, celebrating the win by MIDNIGHT MASCOT (Army Mule).
A $200,000 yearling purchase in 2022, Midnight Mascot was making his first start of 2024 and he rallied in time to win the six-furlong stake with a 76 Beyer Speed Figure. As a two-year-old, the colt was second in the Clarendon Stakes and fifth in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes. His maiden win came at six furlongs but his dam, Midnight Embrace, is a full sister to Plate winner Midnight Aria.
The day before Midnight Mascot’s big win, the Conrad’s homebred ESSEX SERPENT (Honor Code) won his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs with a 77 Beyer Figure. The couple’s horses are trained by Mark Casse.
Property developers and philanthropists, the Conrads also have a promising three-year-old filly in LUNCH WITH BERNIE, who makes her season debut on Saturday.
Midnight Mascot and Essex Serpent both appear on the Plate list from CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED this week.
Meanwhile, CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED’S second-rated Plate contender BABBO is back on the work tab, having recorded a 3 furlong prep in a quick 35 flat on May 3. Trained by Sid Attard for Lou Tucci, Babbo won the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity last November, his third straight win.
American-owned NAPTOWN (Munnings) was third behind Midnight Mascot in the Woodstock. He was fourth in the Coronation last year for trainer Graham Motion.
Al and Bill Ulwelling’s promising colt PIERRE won his maiden on May 4 at even-money, his second career start after a fast-finishing second place finish last December. The Kevin Attard trainee won the six furlong dash by just a head, holding off longshot Gilt Edge. His Beyer Figure for 1:12 was 66.
WAR PAINTER, one of the top two-year-old fillies of 2023, also made a return to the races. The Canuck Racing Club filly was 1-to-9 on May 4 for a six furlong allowance/optional claiming race. Trailing early, the Danish Dynaformer filly made a long, wide sustained rally, looking like an easy winner, but the filly she engaged, NOVEL (Frac Daddy), hung tough and won by a nose. The Beyer Figure was 74.
Frost King Stakes winner NO MORE OPTIONS returned to action for owner Mary Self on May 5 in an allowance/optional claiming race. The Frac Daddy colt was fourth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths against older horses. He earned a 71 Beyer Figure.
CANADIAN THOROUGHBREDS TOP 15 KING’S PLATE CONTENDERS
May 10
1. My Boy Prince – Mark Casse – pointing to Queenston Stakes, June 9; April 7, Cup & Saucer Stakes on turf, 3rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1)
2. Babbo – Sid Attard – ha first workout – Coronation Futurity
3. Waskesiu (f) – Bill Mott – 1st Florida Oaks – idle
4. Midnight Mascot – Mark Casse – Woodstock Stakes
6. No More Options – Z Krcmar -4th optional/allowance; 3rd Coronation Futurity
7. Essex Serpent – Mark Casse – debut win
8. Piper’s Factor – K. Vassilieva – unplaced in 2 starts at Gulfstream – 2nd Coronation Futurity
9. Inudation (f) – K. Attard – working at Woodbine – Princess Elizabeth
10. Frac Dancer – M. DePaulo – won Texas Glitter S. at 5 furlongs, Tapeta, GP, Mar. 24 – sprint SW
11. Stormcast (filly) – Mark Casse; 2nd Honey Ryder Stakes, turf, 80 Beyer
12. Naptown – G. Motion – working at Fair Hill, – 3rd Woodstock, 4th Coronation
13. Kin’s Concerto (f) – J. Carroll – working at Palm Meadows, Woodbine, racing May 12 WO
14. War Painter (f) – K. Attard – 2nd allow/optional at 1 to 9, – 2nd Princess Eliz.
15. Pierre – maiden win
Upcoming Woodbine 3-year-old stakes
King Corrie Stakes, May 19 (overnight)
Queenston Stakes, June 9
Marine Stakes (G3), June 29
Fillies
Ruling Angel, May 18 (overnight)
Fury Stakes, June 8
Selene Stakes (G3), June 29
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